Convertible bed table



Aug. 29, 1933. G KLQTZ CONVERTIBLE BED TABLE 2 Sheets-Shet 1 Filed Feb.4, 1929 544044 Gauge K/OZL v 351 b A Qua/mag SA Aug. 29, 1933. G L Z1,924,945

CONVERTIBLE BED TABLE Filed Feb. 4, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 8141mm tozggor q 35 11: fitter/H01 Patented Aug. 29, 1933 UNITED STATESCONVERTIBLE BED TABLE George Klotz, New York, N. Y., assignor to H. & G.Klotz, a partnership composed 01' Henri Klotz and George, KlotzApplication February 4, 1929, Serial No. 337,257, and in France February3, 1928 11 Claims. (CI. 45-11) This invention relates to convertible bedtables. It is an object of my invention to provide a convertible table,of a sort which may be used by a person in bed; said table being adaptedto be used either in a horizontal position, to hold dishes, or in aninclined position, to hold a book for reading, or as a writing desk,etc.

Another object is to provide means whereby my table may beinterchangeably used as described above.

Other objects will appear as the description proceeds.

My invention will best be understood by referring to the followingdescription, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in

which like reference characters denote like elements throughout, and inwhich:

Fig. 1 is a bottom plan view of the table;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the table when being used flat;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the table being used as a writing desk;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail view of the locking mechanism for the feet,to be used when the table is flat;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged bottom plan view, partly in section, of thelocking mechanism for the feet when folded;

Fig. 6 shows a longitudinal section of one of the extensible legspermitting the use of the table as a writing desk;

Fig. 7 is a section on line A-A of Fig. 1, showing the ledge in positionto hold a book or other object;

Fig. 8 is a section on line A-A of Fig. 1, showing the ledge in positionadapted to be used as a writing desk;

Fig. 9 is a similar view showing the ledge'in its inoperative position.

According to the embodiment of my invention shown in the drawings, thetable 1, which may be preferably of wood, in order that it might belight, is of generally rectangular shape, being of greater width thanlength, and is supplied on its under side with two groups of legs. Thefirst group comprises four legs 2, of equal length, being preferably ofwood and located one at each of the four corners. The secondgroup-comprises two legs 3 placed at the two corners on one long side.The

legs 2 and 3 are all hinged at 4 permitting them to be folded inwardlyagainst the bottom of the table.

On the longitudinal side opposite legs 3, the

- table 1 has an indentation or cut-away portion forming thus twoprolongations 5-5. These prolongations serve first, as arm rests whenthe table is horizontal, the four legs 2 being opened and legs 3 folded,as is represented in Fig. 2; and serve secondly, as legs when the tableis used as a writing desk, the two legs 3 opened and legs 2 folded, asshown in Fig. 3.

In order to give the table a variable inclination when it is used as awriting desk, the legs 3 are extensible. To this end, they are formed,as shown in Fig. 6, of two telescopic tubes 3a and. 3b of wood or metalof rectangular, round or other convenient cross section. A lockingmechanism comprising a spur or pin 6, fixed within the interior of tube31) by means of a spring 7, which tends to push it externally thru ahole in the wall of tube 3b, permits the immobilization of the twotubes, to produce any given length, by entering into one of the spacedholes 8, pierced in external tube 3a.

The four legs 2, of fixed length, as well as the two extensible legs 3,are provided with a mechanism for locking them in the folded position.As shown in Fig. 5, the locking of each leg in the folded position issecured by means of apin 9, mounted on a fiat spring 10,-lodged in acavity 11 in a block of wood 12 (Figs. 1 and 5 the said cavity 11 beingclosed laterally by a metal plate 13, which is pierced with a holepermitting the pin to extend outwardly. This pin is adapted to lodge ina cavity formed by a I spherical metal cap mounted in a plate 14 on theadjacent side of leg 2, or in tube 3a of leg 3.

In Fig. 4 is represented one form of means for immobilizing legs 2 inthe open position; the same mechanism being shown on a slightly smallerscale in Figs. 1, 2 and-3. As shown, an arm 15 is pivotally mounted at16 on the side of the leg. This arm bears a longitudinal slot 17 inwhich slides a pin 18, carried on an angle iron 19, fixed on the bottomof the table, A spring 20, fixed on the arm and bearing against pin 18,pushesthe latter against the upper edge 21 of the groove 17. This edgehas, at its extremity farthest from the leg a notch 22 in which, underthe action of spring 20, pin 18 lodges when the leg is opened,thuslocking the leg in open position.

The table is provided with a ledge disposed at the edge of theindentation and projecting above the upper face of the table in a mannerto maintain upon the table, when used as a writing desk, an object suchas a book, writing paper, etc.

As shown in Figs. 1, 7, 8, and 9, this ledge comprises an L-shaped piece23, preferably of metal, fixed by two fiat springs 24'and 25 to a rod26,

which slides in grooves 27 and 28 formed in cleats 29 and 30. Thesecleats may be made as long as the table in order to reinforce it, aswell as to serve as guides for bar 26.

Ledge 23 bears on its interior a projection 31 of a sort that the ledgecan occupy three different positions to be indicated later; theprojection can be made flush with the table (Fig 7) the ledge then has aheight corresponding to the lateral face of element 23, and can be usedto hold a book, for

example. In Fig. 8, projection 31 rests upon the' bottom of the table,and the height of the ledge is diminished with respect to Fig. '7 by itsthickness. The ledge is then in a suitable position for Writing, etc.Finally, in Fig. 9, the ledge is moved completely out of the way.

These three positions are possible due to the elasticity of the fiatsprings 24 and 25, and the sliding of bar 26 in grooves 27 and 28. Clips32 and 33, rotatable about the same axis 34,'are' me tallic plates andserve to immobilize or in other words hold the ledge in the threeindicated positions. Of course, these clips could be replaced by anydesired mechanism; in the same manner the ledge mightbe merely aprojection, without the extra projection or step 31. V

In order to hold the object supported by the ledge, especially in thecase of a book, one or preferably two bands 35 (Figs. 1 and '7) passthru slots 36 and 3'7 cut into ledge 23 and projection 31, pass acrossthe table and may be made to pass, for example, over the first and thelast page of the book, which is in this manner held perfectly, whilepermitting the reading of all the pages.

While I have, in describing an embodiment of my invention, shown anddescribed certain details of' construction, it is to be understood thatthese are not to be considered as limiting, but are illustrative only.My invention is to be considered limited only by the prior state of theart and the scope of the appended claims.

I claimi- 1. In combination, a table, a ledge adapted to project abovethe upper surface of said table at the lower edge thereof, means formounting said "ledge in sliding relation to said,- table, comprising apair of cleats, extending along, and serving to strengthen said table,grooves in said cleats, a crossbar sliding in said grooves, spring armsspaced apart and connected with said crossbar, said spring arms beingconnected at their extremity with said ledge, and means for holding saidledge in a desired position.

2. In combination, a bed table top, means for supporting said table topin a horizontal position, means for supporting said table top in aninclined position including extensible legs ad jacent one-edge of saidtable top for changing the degree of inclination of the table top, hingemeans for permitting said legs to assume any desired acute anglerelative to the plane of the top of the table, and a pair ofprolongations on said table top on an opposite edge thereof, saidprolongations being spaced to form an indented portion adapted to fitabout the body of the user and being of a length sufficient to permitthe same to function as legs.

3. In combination, a table top, means attached to said table top forsupporting saidtable top in an inclined position, a ledge resilientlymounted on said table top and in sliding relationship therewith, saidledge adapted to project to a full extent above the upper surface ofsaid table top at the lower edge thereof, means for restraining saidledge from projecting tosaid full extent while permitting it to projectto an appreciable extent, and means for completely preventing said ledgefrom projecting above the upper surface of table top.

4. The combination comprising a table top, a ledge, resilient meansslidably mounted underneath said table top for supporting said ledge insliding relationship with respect to said table top, said means adaptedto permit said ledge to be shifted between a position underneath saidtable top and a position of full projection above the upper surface ofsaid table top at one edge hereof, and means on said ledge for holdingsaid ledge in a positionof partial projection above the upper surface ofsaid table top.

5. The combination comprising a table top, ledge, resilient meansslidably mounted underneath said table top for supporting said ledge insliding relationship with respect to said table top, means adapted topermit said ledge to be shifted between a position underneath said tabletop and a position of full projection above the upper surface of saidtable top at one edge thereof, and means on said ledge for holding saidledge in a position or" partial projection above the upper surface ofsaid table top, said last mentioned means comprising a longitudinalprojection on said ledge, said projection having an upper surfacesubstantially flush with the upper surface of said table top and formingan extension thereof when said ledge is in a position of fullprojection, and resting against the under surface of said table top whensaid ledge is in a position of partial projection.

6. The combination comprising a table top, a ledge, resilient meansslidably mounted underneath said table top for supporting said ledge insliding relationship with respect to said table top, said means adaptedto permit said ledge to be shifted between a position underneathsaidtable top'and a position of full projection above the upper surface ofsaid table top at one edge thereof, means on said ledge for holding saidledge in a position of partial projection above the upper surface ofsaid table top, and means attached directly to said table top forsupporting said table top in a horizontal and in an inclined position.

I. In combination, a table top, means for supporting said table top in aplurality of inclined positions, said means comprising a plurality ofextensible legs hingedadjacent one edge of said table top and adapted toassume any desired acute angle relative to the table top, a pair ofprolongations on each table top on an opposite edge thereof, saidprolongations being spaced to form an indented portion adapted to fitabout the body'of the user and being of a length sufficient to permitthe same to function as legs,

and means on said hinged legs for holding the 3 same in a plurality ofextensible positions.

8. In combination, a table top, means for supporting said table top in aplurality of inclined positions, said means comprising a plurality ofextensible legs hinged adjacent one edge of said table top and adaptedto assume any desired acute angle relative -to the table top, means onsaid legs for holding the same in a plurality of extensible positions,spaced prolongations at the opposite edge of the table top forming anindented portion therebetween adapted to fit about the front part of thebody of the user, and an adjustable ledge adapted to fit over the edgeor" said indented portion, said ledge extending transversely of saidtable top.

9. In combination, a table top, means for supporting said table top in aplurality of inclined positions, said means comprising a plurality ofextensible legs hinged adjacent one edge of said table top and adaptedto assume any desired acute angle relative to the table top, means onsaid legs for holding the same in a plurality of extensible positions,spaced prolongations at the opposite edge of the table top forming anindented portion therebetween adapted to fit about the front part of thebody of the user, an adjustable ledge adapted to fit over the edge ofsaid indented portion, said ledge extending transversely of said tabletop, slots in said ledge, flexible bands about said table top, one bandpassing through each slot, said bands adapted to hold objects on saidtable top and to permit said ledge to be adjusted without removal ofsaid bands.

10. In combination, a table top, a plurality of legs hinged adjacent oneedge of said table top and adapted to assume any desired acutepositions, said means comprising adjustable leg means for supportingsaid table top at one edge thereof, a pair of prolongations on saidtable top on an opposite edge thereof, said prolongations being spacedto form an indented portion adapted to fit about the body of the userand being of a length suflicient to permit the same to function as legs,and a ledge adapted to fit over the edge of said indented portion, saidledge extending transversely of said table top.

GEORGE KLOTZ.

